Free Web NovelChapter 429: Chapter 429: The Mountain Villa
"Is there usually no one living here?" Ding Anmin asked curiously, seeing that the door of the farm was locked from the outside.
"Well, someone comes to clean it every few days," Ni Yan’an replied. "This is my hometown, and Daihe Village under Beidai Mountain is the birthplace of my great-great-grandfather. The ancestral home is still here. It’s said that this place was also built at that time and is a great spot for summer holidays. I visited several times when I was a kid, and even last year, but it looks a bit shabby compared to before."
A large family indeed. Yi Roujing thought to herself that only large families in the past could afford to buy land on a mountain and build a summer retreat.
Ni Yanqing opened the door. The small paths in the yard were paved with bluestone, flanked by fruit trees and flowers, creating an elegant landscape. The wooden rooms were not built directly on the ground but had an elevated layer.
The group of women with Yi Roujing were quite curious about the full view of the farm. While the men were organizing rooms and settling luggage, they toured the place under the guidance of Ni Yan’an.
The backyard of the farm was very large and had partitioned sections like swing doors. After passing through the wooden swing door, they saw brightly blooming fruit trees. Yi Roujing recognized them as peach trees. The soft pink peach blossoms were in full bloom, probably because the flowering period was delayed due to the mountain location.
Walking along a secluded path, Yi Roujing experienced the ambiance, strolling for a good minute or two. Along the way were peach trees, and looking up, she could see a row of houses with blue brick and gray tiles not far away.
"This place was built specially for the hot spring. It used to be wooden, but was rebuilt as blue brick houses a few years ago, making it warmer and safer," said Ni Yan’an, acting as a little tour guide.
"The men’s and women’s baths are separate. There are a total of three hot spring sources; one is too hot for bathing but perfect for boiling eggs." Ni Yan’an’s eyes lit up with surprise as she said, "The boiled eggs have a faint taste, but are said to be more nutritious. We can try them later."
Opening the door to the women’s bath, a wave of warm, moisture-laden air rushed in. In the center of the room was a hot spring pool. The left side was slightly lower, and on the wall was a section of plugged bamboo with a water jar below it. On the side, a stone slab was erected with enamel mugs, enamel basins, and other items placed on it.
"This is mountain spring water that’s been diverted here. It’s drinkable, sweet, and delicious," Ni Yan’an explained, using a clean enamel mug to draw water. She removed the plug from the bamboo opening, and clear mountain spring water flowed out. She filled a mug and handed it to Yi Roujing and the others.
Each person drank a few sips, enjoying the sweet and slightly bamboo-scented taste.
Opposite the door was a window, currently open. Looking out the window, Yi Roujing noticed a wall not far away with what seemed to be more space behind it.
"There’s a martial arts training ground behind, with some obstacles for training. People borrow it often. Not only do they get to exercise, but soaking in the hot spring afterward relaxes the muscles. The training benefits are doubled here." Of course, Ni Yan’an had heard this from Ni Yanqing, as she hadn’t trained herself.
"Wow, this place is fantastic." Yuan Xiangyu had already fallen in love with it and was eager to soak in the hot spring. She was currently sweating and feeling very uncomfortable.
The room next to the women’s bath was a washing area, quite spacious but without a large bath. With a hot spring on site, this was redundant and unnecessary.
"Across from here is a kitchen specifically for heating water. Wash up first, then enjoy the hot spring. This keeps the spring water clean, and afterward, you can head straight back to your room to sleep," Ni Yan’an said.
"There’s also a men’s bathhouse next to the men’s hot spring. Some men don’t like soaking in the hot spring, finding it troublesome, so they just wash in the bathhouse."
Ni Yan’an’s words made Yi Roujing and the others understand why there were so many rooms in this row.
"But it’s not good to soak in the hot spring on an empty stomach. Let’s eat lunch and rest for a while before coming in the afternoon. It seems like we’re having a barbecue for lunch." After showing the "ladies brigade" the entire view, Ni Yan’an went to the front. At this time, two iron racks were already set up in the open area of the front yard, and many ingredients were placed on the nearby table. Some were cutting, others were cleaning and processing vegetables.
Ding Anmin was capable and quickly became the main force after joining, handling the seasoning expertly.
With a sizzle, the marinated pork belly made an enticing sound as it hit the heat. Once both sides were a bit golden, the meats were cut into one-centimeter thick slices with scissors, and were flipped from time to time.
Of course, people wouldn’t waste the dripping fat. Below the rack was a row of small trenches designed to catch the dripping grease, which was then poured into bowls with tongs to be used later for cooking.
"Where’s Mr. Wu?" Noticing Wu Guofang was missing, Baozi asked, but just then Wu Guofang walked in carrying a rabbit in one hand and a pheasant in the other. He also had a basket on his back filled with fresh mountain produce. freewebnovel.cσ๓
"Save these for dinner; I’m quite good at roasting rabbit," Wu Guofang said with a smile.
"I can make a baked beggar’s chicken," Ding Anmin chimed in.
"Wu, are there many wild animals on the mountain?" Jiang Bomeng asked eagerly, "Are there deer?"
"Deer are deeper in the mountains. Now it’s summer, there are many poisonous snakes, so it’s safer to stay on the outskirts," Wu Guofang advised against taking risks, considering the young city folks’ safety.
"It’s alright. We brought plenty of snake repellents and insecticides. We’ll team up and head into the deep mountains early tomorrow," Ni Yanqing said. "I’ve been there before, so I know the way."
Wu Guofang didn’t oppose after hearing this. The young members of large families usually have some skills, and as long as they have repellent powder, they can handle other challenges.
Feng Lishu was cooking a large pot of meat porridge on the stove, which she portioned out to Baozi, Mantou, and the other kids. They enjoyed it with grilled Mantou slices, eating happily before being coaxed to sleep.
After lunch, everyone returned to their rooms to tidy up and rest, planning to meet at half-past three for a hot spring session.
Yi Roujing also saw the room she would be staying in, which had a local folk feel. It was equipped with basic amenities—a wooden plank bed in the center, a desk by the window, and two rattan chairs. The desk was equipped with a thermos flask and enamel mugs that Xu Ancheng had placed there, and there was a wardrobe in the corner.
Their room was at the end, with windows on two sides, offering a view of the lush green mountain landscape outside, which was very soothing.
Xu Ancheng was helping Yi Roujing prepare things for the hot spring, reminding her, "Remember, outside the women’s bath, you can’t be exposed."
"Tsk, I’m not an exhibitionist," Yi Roujing pouted and muttered.
"I’ll keep an eye on Baozi. Feel free to explore the farm, but if you want to go outside, you must inform me and only go with me," Xu Ancheng added. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Yes, my dear," Yi Roujing said, giving him a kiss, which finally settled Xu Ancheng down.
